The Pain Continues...

The Q's finally came home for a match last night to take on Toronto FC. There was still talk about the chance to still sneak into the playoffs if we can string some wins together. We'll, after last night, sneaking into post season play may not be coming into the near future. The Quakes really stunk it up last night. They did have their few moments + a nice goal coming from the combination of Ryan Johnson and Hucks, but the defense just didn't... defend. Too many opportunities for Toronto and DeRo. It was really disheartening...it still feels like we have stepped backwards in time to our form at the beginning of our inaugural season last year. The only sure thing that I know is - I'm a Quakes supporter forever.

Non-Commercial Football Shirt Sponsorships

The shirt sponsorship that Barca has with Unicef is quite amazing in this day of bottom line profit. I was scanning the EPL website last week and saw that Aston Villa's shirt sponsor is Acorns - the children's hospice network in the UK. This brings me great pleasure as I am a volunteer at the George Mark Children's House in San Leandro, CA (http://www.georgemark.org/) The past couple of years, I had adopted Chelsea as my adopted EPL team, but after considering this contribution and the support Aston Villa is giving to Acorns, I am considering a switch in my EPL alliance. More later.

Quakes Announce Yet Another Move

Nick Garcia, a stalwart on defense for the Q's the past 1 1/2 seasons has been dealt to Toronto FC (along with rights to Ali Gerba) for a 3rd Rd 2010 SuperDraft pick. Are the Quakes cleaning house mid-season? I guess it is good that they are not afraid to pull the trigger, but I am still sore about the loss of Ronnie O'Brien during the off season. Let's hope that this shake-up helps the team the remainder of the year.

MLS Wildfire

The MLS is growing faster than the muscles of Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds! I hope that the growth isn't too fast for the American football fans to handle. It is great to see the league grow - as long as it doesn't go the way of the USFL, etc.

Let's see - 2007 to 2011


Toronto FC 2007

San Jose Earthquakes (part deux) 2008

Seattle Sounders FC 2009

Philadelphia 2010

Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2011

Portland Timbers 2011

My guess of what the divisions will look like by 2011 (adding the new teams to their logical conference and then moving on of the Texas teams to the East - my guess would be Dallas)

EAST: Chicago, Columbus, DC, Kansas City, New England, Toronto, NY, Philadelphia, Dallas

WEST: San Jose, Seattle, Chivas, Colorado, Houston, LA, RSL, Vancouver, Portland

Ending the season on a high-note!

The Quakes ended the season last night with a 2-nil victory over Toronto FC (goals from Cochrane and Salinas). It was so great for the boys to end the season with the taste of the victory. It was an awesome night - the Quakes were attacking and much more aggressive tonight on offense and defense. We were able to pick up 3 more points to end the season 33 points and tied with the hated Galaxy (who tied FC Dallas in their last game). Team awards were given out prior to kickoff. Defensive MVP: Jason Hernandez Team MVP: Darren Huckerby. Humanitarian: Joe Cannon. (My votes would have been: Defensive MVP: Nick Garcia. Team MVP: Joe Cannon). We are already looking forward to the start of the 2009 season. Jim and his family have been great neighbors in Sec 108. They tolerated our drumming all season and it was alot of fun to cheer the Q's alongside them all year. A shout out to Kalia, Travis, Tanner, Kelsey + her friends, Proud Smurf and his family, and the rest of the gang in Sec 108.

Finally - our Victory celebration - mojarras fritas plate @ Chalateco!

We refrained from returning to Chalateco for some tilapia until the Quakes won again at home. We had to wait until the last game of the season, but it was worth it! We also ran into Proud Smurf and his family at the Chalateco after the game.

H on the "attack"!

www.chalateco.com

Our chef!

The Season Finale

The Q's take on Toronto FC tomorrow night - the final game of the season. It will be nice to complete this campaign at the SB San Siro. Even though this game does not have any playoff implications, it will certainly determine whether the Q's have a chance to overtake the Galaxy in the standings. LA currently has 32 pts and the Q's have 30. LA plays FC Dallas @ the Home Depot Center (noon time kickoff). If FCD can win, it will all be up to the Q's to win and move up in the table.

Gridiron and Football "Double" Again

Cal Gridiron is taking on UCLA (Univ. of California for Lower Achievers) at 12:30pm in Berkeley. Shouldn't be too bad a rush to get to the Q's game at the SB Siro @ 7pm.

Beckham on loan to ACM

I don't have many thoughts on this subject. He can do what he wants. What does bother me is the issue of his mission to break the record for England Nat'l Team caps. So many people are saying he is getting "cheap" caps for basically token appearances. That is BOGUS. His impact in the MLS this year was mediocre at best. He should use his off-season resting his tired body.

1 "friendly" and 1 "must win"

There will be 2 Quakes games this week at the SB San Siro. The first one is tomorrow night vs CD FAS - an international friendly. Don't expect the first team out there on the pitch for this one. CD FAS is a top club from El Salvador. The big game will be on Saturday when we take on Chivas USA - a must win as I see it if we are going maintain an outside chance to get into post season play. Chivas is one of the teams that is also fighting for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Currently they have 39 points (2nd to Houston with 43). The Q's only have 30. RSL, Colorado, and FC Dallas are the teams we are trying to catch (this is why the FC Dallas tie last week really hurt us). This week: NY @ RSL, Toronto @ Dallas, and Colorado @ LA. (The Galaxy is behind the Q's with 29 pts. Ideally - Quakes win, RSL and Dallas lose, and Colorado and LA tie).

Only 5 games left. C'mon Boys!

Only 5 regular season games left (+ 1 friendly against CD Fas). Tonight's match is HUGE. The team is going to have to be playing their "A" game from this point forward. The defensive lapses cost us a victory in our last game vs. Real Salt Lake. The boys need to help Joe out. All the other teams know what Hucks can do now so they are adjusting their D to put more pressure on him. Arturo had trouble getting into the last game - I hope that changes soon. C'mon Boys - "Let's Go Earthquakes - da-da-dadada-da-da-da

10/02 - Thursday
@ FC Dallas
6:00 p.m.
ESPN2, Deportes

10/07 - Tuesday
CD Fas &
7:00 p.m.

10/11 - Saturday
Chivas USA
7:00 p.m.
HDNet, CSNW

10/15 - Wednesday
@ Houston Dynamo
6:00 p.m.
CSNBA, DK, MLSLIVE.tv

10/18 - Saturday
@ Kansas City Wizards
5:00 p.m.
CSNBA, DK, MLSLIVE.tv

10/25 - Saturday
Toronto FC
7:00 p.m.
CSNBA, DK, MLSLIVE.tv

Marshalls, Ross, etc.

H is the king of football-related goods at discount retail chains! http://www.hcanfinditfootball.com/ Jersey's, jackets, t-shirts, balls, etc. (sizes and styles are limited....to one)